Mt. SAC students can learn a foreign language thanks to the Language Learning Center, an interactive and event-filled program promoting connectedness and technological literacy.
“Anyone in the community can use the Language Learning Center,” Peggy Marcy, Coordinator LLC, said with a smile.
The Language Learning Lab, more commonly called the LLC, invites all language enthusiasts to use its new facilities. It holds an open lab, along with two classroom labs, that are filled with computers and language learning programs such as Rosetta Stone and Mango Languages. Languages supported at the center include Spanish, Japanese, Mandarin, French, Korean, Italian, Sign Language, German, Arabic, and English as a second language. All students can register for the LLC through Canvas to get access to these free materials.
Marcy encourages students to stop by, ask questions, and enjoy their offerings. With a Master of Arts in Teaching, she has worked on providing resources and creating events for students to learn and practice foreign languages for over 21 years.
Marcy has worked on creating a welcoming atmosphere. “We were one of the first labs to relax and loosen our rules. I know our students appreciate it,” Marcy said with a chuckle.
The LLC is also known for its willingness to help students, especially with technological literacy. “I want us to be very student-centered, and help them in any way that we can,” Marcy said.
“The Language Learning Center helped me pass my language classes and earn my degree,” Mt. SAC alumni, L Sanchez, said.
The Language Learning Center hosts a variety of events for students to participate in. These include grammar games, language partners, and language cafes. Each event is instrumental in helping students learn a foreign language.
“The programs that we have started like the grammar games and the language cafes have helped a lot.” She added, “We have unlimited licenses to Mango Languages and Rosetta Stone that have completely different teaching and learning philosophies which is why we chose those two.”
The LLC has also created innovative programs. ”We started the Passport Rewards Contest several years ago and were the first lab in the country to do so,” Marcy said. “Then other language labs liked the idea and started following along,” she added.
Marcy is always working on providing more activities at the LLC, with a brand new event called the Interpretive Reading Contest, participants will recite a poem or dialogue in their preferred language of study in either Spanish, Japanese, or French. This will take place on April 28 in the building 13 auditorium. All are welcome.
The COVID-19 shut-downs have affected university language labs nationwide, causing them to close. As for the future of the LLC at Mt. SAC, Marcy hopes that more students check out the facilities and take part in events.
The Language Learning Center is located in building 77 in room 1005. The LLC’s operating hours are Monday through Thursday 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Friday 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
